About this season
Artists from the UK and Ireland compete by creating portraits of famous people.
Episodes (7)
1. London
Aired 5 November 2013 • 60 min
Joan Bakewell and Frank Skinner begin their search for Sky Arts' Portrait Artist of the Year in London, where artists are asked to paint stars such as Alison Steadman.
2. Glasgow
Aired 12 November 2013 • 60 min
Frank Skinner, Joan Bakewell and the judges head to Glasgow as 21 competitors capture celebrity sitters including actor John Hannah and paralympian Michael Kerr.
3. Dublin
Aired 19 November 2013 • 60 min
Frank Skinner and Joan Bakewell take the competition to Dublin where 21 artists hope to wow the judges with portraits of Pauline McLynn, David Rawle and Lethal Bizzle.
4. Cardiff
Aired 26 November 2013 • 60 min
The final heat takes Joan Bakewell and Frank Skinner to Wales where artists paint a topless Gavin Henson, Lucian Freud's muse Sue Tilley and war veteran Simon Weston.
5. Paris
Aired 3 December 2013 • 60 min
The penultimate stage of the competition takes the four finalists to the French Capital, where they have six hours to paint author and model Sophie Dahl.
6. National Portrait Gallery
Aired 10 December 2013 • 60 min
The finalists unveil one last portrait before the judges enter tense discussions over the winner. Who will be crowed Portrait Artist of the Year 2013?
7. Painting Hilary Mantel
Aired 17 December 2013 • 60 min
Join the winning artist as they plan, paint and unveil their £10,000 commission to capture Booker Prize-winning author Hilary Mantel for the British Library.